Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / March 29, 2001, edition 1 / Page 13
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Kings Mountain Herald March 29, 2001 North Carolina’s governor’s mansion BY ALAN HODGE Staff Writer One of the nation’s finest gov- ernor’s mansions is located right here in North Carolina. Situated on a five acre site in downtown * Raleigh on Burke Square not far from the capitol, the North Carolina Executive Mansion is one of only a dozen executive homes built and continuously used for such a purpose in America. Constructed during the peri- ( od 1884-1891, the executive man- sion currently contains 34,086 square feet and is built in the Queen Anne Cottage style. Much of the labor to build the home was provided by inmates from i Central Prison. Most of the mate- i rial used in the mansion is native to North Carolina. Governor Mike Easley is the 27th North Carolina chief executive to call the place home. Architects for the project included two of the most influen- tial of their day- Samuel Sloan and A.G. Bauer of Philadelphia. Though Sloan died before the work was over, Bauer stayed on to make Raleigh his home. The first governor to call the mansion home was Daniel G. Fowle. To officially open the estate, Fowle hosted a party on January 13, 1891 for two thou- sand guests. Some legislators called the house “Fowle’s Folly.” Final cost of the mansion was j $58,843. The current executive man- sion is the fourth building to be used for that purpose in North Carolina history. Well-known tourist attraction Tryon Palace in New Bern was the first such resi- dence and was the seat of gov- uf’ Bee Boe ernment until 1792. The second Tar Heel gover- nor’s home was a two-story wooden house at the corner of Fayetteville and Hargett streets. It was used until 1816 when the third home, called the “Governor's Palace” was done. Over the course of 1816 until 1865, 20 North Carolina gover- nors called this brick house home. It was also used by Union general William “Uncle Billy” Sherman as his headquarters during the clos- ing days of the Civil War. From 1865 until the present mansion was built, North Carolina’s governors dwelled in rented houses or Raleigh hotels. The executive mansion’s grounds contain five gardens. Grown there are an assortment of herbs, vegetables and fruits which are often used by the gov- ernor’s chef. Trees, shrubs and flowers are varieties native to our state. The executive mansion’s many rooms reflect an elegant yet refined style. The first floor con- sists of six public rooms joined by a central hallway. The home's sec- ond floor is where the governor and his family reside. On the third floor of the mansion and in the basement are rooms for stor- age, offices and laundry. Central to the governor’s resi- dence is the Grand Hallway. The floor of the hall is carpeted with a magnificent red and crimson handmade rug stitched with the names and administration dates of all previous Tar Heel gover- nors. Also worked into the rug’s design are the North Carolina state symbols as well as the story of the mansion itself. Other fea- tures of the hallway are stately Corinthian columns, crystal chan- deliers, 16-foot ceilings, and a heart pine staircase. Front rooms on the first floor of the executive man- sion are deco- rated as formal ladies’ and gents’ parlors. The room for the men also features a g handmade rug with the state symbols. As for the ladies’ par- lor, it has a col- lection of 18th and 19th centu- ry furniture made in North Carolina and other areas of the southland. One of the most important rooms in the executive man- sion is the Grand Ballroom. Over the years, liter- ally hundreds of important receptions, din- ners, and meet- ing have taken place in this area. Decorating features include French mirrors, chande- liers from Sheffield, mahogany and gilded furnishings, and ele- gant draperies. Restored in 1983, the Library has a relaxing atmosphere and has long been a favorite spot for our governors to catch up on their reading. A large fireplace and fine North Carolina made furniture complete the ambi- ence. The formal Dining Room at the executive mansion is a study in elegance. Dominating the room is an 18-foot long table that seats 24 guests. The chande- Photo courtesy of NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development lier is a cut crystal creation from Austria. On display are lovely examples of chinaware, silver service, and crystal. Bringing the Carolina sun into the governor's abode is the Morning Room. This room began as an open porch, was later screened, and is now fully enclosed. Furnishings of wicker and brightly colored fabrics com- plete the cheery decor. 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The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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March 29, 2001, edition 1
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